How to Cook a Juicy, Tender Pork Butt in Your Instant Pot

Pork butt, which is also called Boston butt or pork shoulder, is a cheap and tasty cut of meat that you can use to make pulled pork, carnitas, or roasts. In the oven or slow cooker, the traditional way to cook pork butt can take over 10 hours. With the Instant Pot, it only takes 1 to 2 hours!

Is it really possible to cook a pork butt until tender and juicy in a fraction of the time? If you’re new to the instant pot, you may be wondering if that’s possible. The answer is a resounding “yes!” The high heat and pressurized environment of the instant pot help break down collagen and connective tissue, making meat fall off the bone in a short amount of time.

In this comprehensive guide I’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook pork butt perfectly in the instant pot. You’ll learn about

• Benefits of using the instant pot
• Choosing the right size and cut of pork
• Best seasonings and flavors
• Step-by-step instant pot pork butt recipe
• Serving ideas and side dishes
• Storage and reheating leftovers

Let’s get started!

Why Cook Pork Butt in an Instant Pot?

Here are some of the best reasons to cook pork butt in an instant pot:

• Fast cooking time – Pork shoulder needs to cook for a long time to get tender at low oven temperatures. The instant pot can cook a pork butt in 1-2 hours instead of 8+ hours!

• Juicy and tender – The pressurized steam helps meat retain moisture and high heat melts collagen for fall-apart texture.

• More hands-off – With the instant pot, there’s no need for babysitting a pork roast in the oven or checking a slow cooker. Just set it and go!

• Great for meal prepping – Make a big batch of pulled pork in the instant pot for the week. It reheats beautifully!

• More flavor development – Spices and seasonings infuse into the meat under pressure.

• Energy efficient – The closed heating environment uses less electricity than heating up an oven for hours.

As you can see, the instant pot offers some major perks when it comes to cooking pork butt! Now let’s talk about choosing the right cut of meat.

Selecting Pork For the Instant Pot

There are a few different cuts of pork that work well for making pulled pork or roast in the instant pot:

• Pork butt – Also called Boston butt, this is the upper shoulder. It contains a good amount of connective tissue and fat, which makes it perfect for shredding. The bone-in option has the most flavor.

• Picnic roast – From the lower shoulder, a picnic roast has less fat than pork butt but still contains plenty of collagen. Great budget option.

• Pork shoulder – This boneless roast offers convenience without sacrificing tenderness when cooked under pressure.

Ideally, choose a 2-5 pound pork roast with visible marbling for the best texture. Larger roasts over 8 pounds may not cook evenly. For pulled pork, opt for a bone-in pork butt. The bones add flavor!

Best Seasonings for Instant Pot Pork Butt

One of the best parts of cooking pork shoulder is getting creative with flavors and rubs! Here are some tasty seasoning ideas:

• Classic BBQ spice rub – Smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper

• Mexican flavors – Cumin, chili powder, oregano, orange juice, garlic, onion, lime

• Asian twist – Five spice powder, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil

• Cuban mojo – Orange juice, lime juice, cumin, oregano, garlic

• Savory herb rub – Rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic powder, salt, pepper

• Spicy and sweet – Brown sugar, cayenne, mustard powder, smoked paprika

Endless combinations of spices, herbs, citrus, and sweet flavors pair well with pork. Always season the meat liberally just before cooking for the most flavor infusion.

Now let’s get to the fun part – making insanely delicious pulled pork in the instant pot!

Step-by-Step Instant Pot Pork Butt Recipe

Follow these simple steps for juicy, fall-apart tender pork shoulder every time:

Ingredients:

• 3-5 lbs bone-in pork butt roast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth or water
• Your favorite pork spice rub

Directions:

1. Pat pork roast dry and generously coat all over with your homemade or store-bought spice rub. Make sure to really massage the seasoning into the meat.

2. Select Saute setting on the instant pot and heat olive oil. Sear pork roast on all sides until nicely browned, about 5 minutes per side.

3. Remove roast and add onion and garlic to pot. Saute for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Pour in chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

5. Place seasoned pork roast back into pot along with any accumulated juices.

6. Cancel saute function. Secure the lid and set valve to sealing. Pressure cook on High for 1 hour 15 minutes per pound of meat.

7. Once cooking completes, allow pressure to release naturally for at least 20 minutes before opening lid.

8. Remove pork from instant pot and let rest 10-15 minutes.

9. Using two forks, shred pork butt into bite-sized pieces.

10. Add cooking liquid from pot to shredded pork to keep it moist.

That’s it – juicy, fall-apart instant pot pork butt ready to serve! The meat shreds perfectly after cooking under pressure for a short time.

Now, what are some delicious ways to use up all of that tender, flavorful pulled pork? Keep reading!

Serving and Side Dish Ideas

Pulled pork from the instant pot is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few tasty ways to serve it up:

• Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Pile pork high on brioche buns with extra BBQ sauce and coleslaw.

• Pork Carnitas Tacos – Crispy bits of pork with onion, cilantro, lime, and salsa on corn tortillas.

• Pulled Pork Pizza – Top pizza crust with shredded pork, mozzarella, red onion, and barbecue drizzle.

• Pork Burrito Bowls – Make burrito bowls with pork, Mexican rice, black beans, cheese, avocado, etc.

• Pulled Pork Hash – Cook potatoes, onions, and peppers in the instant pot then mix in shredded pork.

Here are some tasty sides that pair perfectly with instant pot pork dishes:

• Coleslaw
• Mac and cheese
• Roasted broccoli
• Mashed potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Collard greens
• Baked beans
• Creamed corn
• Cornbread muffins

Serve it up on a bun or taco, over rice, with eggs for breakfast – the possibilities are endless! Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for 4 months.

Reheating Leftover Pulled Pork

One of the best things about cooking pork butt in the instant pot is getting several meals out of one roast! Here are some tips for reheating leftover pulled pork:

• For sandwiches, wrap buns or tortillas in foil and crisp up in a 300F oven for 10 minutes with pork and toppings stuffed inside.

• For soups or tacos, add desired amount of pork to pot with a bit of water or broth. Simmer until heated through.

• For nachos or pizza, spread pork on top and pop in a 375F oven for 5-10 minutes until hot.

• For bowls or hash, place pork in a skillet or pot with a splash of water. Cook over medium stirring frequently until steaming.

• For salads, simply mix room temp pork into cold greens, slaw, or grains. The contrast of hot and cold is delicious!

Storing cooked pork butt properly is important – be sure to seal air-tight and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. With these quick reheating tricks, you’ll have instant pulled pork anytime!

More Handy Tips for Instant Pot Pork Butt Perfection

Here are a few more pointers to ensure pork butt success every time with your instant pot:

• Use broth, water, soda, beer or apple juice instead of just water for more flavor.

• Cut large roasts over 6 pounds in half so they cook more evenly.

• Let meat rest at least 10 minutes before shredding for juicier results.

• Mix in a few tablespoons of liquid from pot when shredding to prevent dry pork.

• Add barbecue sauce, hot sauce, mojo, etc at the end depending on your meal plan.

• Use natural release method for at least 20 minutes before quick releasing pressure.

• Track cook time starting when the instant pot reaches pressure, not when you hit start.

• Pork can overcook quickly, so stop pressure cooking if time needed is less than 35 minutes.

With the right size roast, flavorful seasoning, and these simple steps, you’ll have fall-off-the-bone tender pork butt from your instant pot any night of the week!